Murder and Mischief
Item
Type
Document Signed
Title
Murder and Mischief
Description
Report on incidents of murder and theft on the river by assailants in boats.
short description
Murder and Mischief
year created
1790
month created
04
day created
03
author
recipient
in image
notable person/group
Thomas Lewis
Robert Rankins
Indians
Indian Nation
hostiles
savages
prisoner
Mr. May
crew
Colonel John Edwards
Captain Thomas Marshal
Colonel George Thompson
woman
children
party of men
Colonel Ward
Mr R Madison
Mr. Richards
notable location
Ohio
river
frontier
Cabin Creek
Bourbon
Kenneday's bottom
Limestone
settlement
Scioto
Greenbrier
Monongahala
notable item/thing
property
boats
late mischief
canoe
escape
ensnared
murder
erecting a new settlement
plunder
whiskey
horses
cattle
notable idea/issue
murder
prisoner
captive
mischief
document number
1790040390001
page start
1
transcription
Capt Robt Rankins to Col (undecipherable) Simms April 3d 1790
As I (undecipherable) you have not heard of the late mischief. I shall just beg leave to inform you that about six weeks ago, two men were taken off (the rest of the letter is undeipherable)
by which means six men in a barge going up the (undecipherable) attempted to escape after they found themselves (undecipherable) were murdered, Mr May's boat taken, himself and one other killed the rest of the crew made prisoners, two boats in which was a considerable amount of property belonging to Col John Edwards of (undecipherable), Capt Thomas (undecipherable) stood and a number of other Gentlemen taken, the Gentlemen themselves forced to (undecipherable) into Colonel George Thompson's boat and ran for life, the Indians having pursued them in Mr May's boat arrived for that purpose with (undecipherable) (undecipherable).
Two men were also killed and seven more, one woman and six children taken prisoners about six weeks ago in (undecipherable) day's bottom on the Ohio, 20 miles above Linestones, where they were engaged in erecting a new settlement. All this mischief has been done by the same party of Indians who are still on the (Undecipherable)
Pierce and from information about the same please where the boats and (undecipherable) were taken for 7 mile above the north of Santo and we are informed by the two here above mentioned who have escaped and come in, that they have sent the plunder to their town by a party and expect are (undecipherable). A party of men were raised in this settlement on the first intelligence of the disturbance, but a dispute arising among them respecting the object in view, they split and advanced without doing of any (undecipherable, except bringing away a boat which the Indians filled up for their offensive operations; (undecipherable) such generally are the consequence of expeditions where the officers who conduct them have only (undecipherable) to advise and persuade; and it is made to be comented, that the Government under which we live wants power, or they who are at the helm a disposition to protest its Citizens.
I have this moment received further
intelligence of the (undecipherable) of those (undeciphables) Devils. A boat from (undecipherble) in which was Colonel Ward, Mr R Madison and these or four other boats from Manorgahala, were yesterday afternoon attacked at or near the place mentioned above, a Mr Richards was killed and the Mangahala people were obliged to abandon one of their boats with about 100 gallons of Whiskey, some other property besides several horses and cattle. A number of troops were killed and wounded in the other boats.
As I (undecipherable) you have not heard of the late mischief. I shall just beg leave to inform you that about six weeks ago, two men were taken off (the rest of the letter is undeipherable)
by which means six men in a barge going up the (undecipherable) attempted to escape after they found themselves (undecipherable) were murdered, Mr May's boat taken, himself and one other killed the rest of the crew made prisoners, two boats in which was a considerable amount of property belonging to Col John Edwards of (undecipherable), Capt Thomas (undecipherable) stood and a number of other Gentlemen taken, the Gentlemen themselves forced to (undecipherable) into Colonel George Thompson's boat and ran for life, the Indians having pursued them in Mr May's boat arrived for that purpose with (undecipherable) (undecipherable).
Two men were also killed and seven more, one woman and six children taken prisoners about six weeks ago in (undecipherable) day's bottom on the Ohio, 20 miles above Linestones, where they were engaged in erecting a new settlement. All this mischief has been done by the same party of Indians who are still on the (Undecipherable)
Pierce and from information about the same please where the boats and (undecipherable) were taken for 7 mile above the north of Santo and we are informed by the two here above mentioned who have escaped and come in, that they have sent the plunder to their town by a party and expect are (undecipherable). A party of men were raised in this settlement on the first intelligence of the disturbance, but a dispute arising among them respecting the object in view, they split and advanced without doing of any (undecipherable, except bringing away a boat which the Indians filled up for their offensive operations; (undecipherable) such generally are the consequence of expeditions where the officers who conduct them have only (undecipherable) to advise and persuade; and it is made to be comented, that the Government under which we live wants power, or they who are at the helm a disposition to protest its Citizens.
I have this moment received further
intelligence of the (undecipherable) of those (undeciphables) Devils. A boat from (undecipherble) in which was Colonel Ward, Mr R Madison and these or four other boats from Manorgahala, were yesterday afternoon attacked at or near the place mentioned above, a Mr Richards was killed and the Mangahala people were obliged to abandon one of their boats with about 100 gallons of Whiskey, some other property besides several horses and cattle. A number of troops were killed and wounded in the other boats.
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | NKZ06 (4 pages) | Collection: First Congress: Reports and Communications Submitted to the House of Representatives by the Secretary of War [1A-D2] (RG 233) {reference microfilm} | P: 27-30 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Robert Rankins | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Thomas Lewis | [unknown] | [n/a] |